Engine-starting device.



G. H. BUBBL.

ENGINE STARTING DEVICE.

AJEPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1913. 3,3 fiflfl, Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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G. H. BUBBL.

ENGINE STARTING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG.16. 1913.

1,1 23,240, Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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G. H. BUBEL. ENGINE STARTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.16, 191a.

1,123,240, Patented Jan.5,1915.

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HE NORRIS PETERS C04. PHOTO-Llfl-ln, WASHINGTON, D. t

GEORGE H. BU'BEL, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ENGINE-STARTING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Application filed August 16, 1913. Serial No. 785,110.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. BUBEL, citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio," have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starting Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved engine starting device and has for its primary object to provide means actuated by compressed air or other fluid for starting the internal combustion engine of a motor Vehicle, means being provided whereby a supply of the actuating fluid at a predetermined pressure is automatically maintained.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means embodying an outer casing, air compressing means loosely mounted upon the engine shaft within said casing, a clutch member on the engine shaft to lock the air compressor thereto, and means mounted in said casing including a piston actuated by compressed air to automatically shift said clutch member whereby the air compressor is operated when the pressure of air is increased to a predetermined point.

The invention has for another object the provision of a cylindrical casing mounted upon the engine shaft, a drum eccentrically mounted therein and carrying a plurality of compressor blades, and, means for automatically taking up wear upon the ends of the drum and the blades to maintain a tight connection between the same and the opposite ends of the cylinder.

It is still another object of my invention to produce an apparatus for the above purpose which is comparatively simple in its construction, may be produced at small manufacturing cost and is highly reliable and efficient in practical operation.

With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of the parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

' For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the connections between the operators control valves, the air supply tank and the ports of the compressor casing; Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the compressor; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. i is an enlarged fragmentary section through the compressor casing with the drum removed; Fig. 5 is a face view of the back plate of the casing; Fig. 6 is a similar View of the front plate; Fig. '7 is an enlarged transverse section of the operators control valves, Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 2; Fig. 9 is a detail section similar to Fig. 2 showing the position of the clutch arm after the clutch has been thrown to its inefiective position; Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail elevation of the piston for actuating the clutch arm.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 designates a stationary cylindrical casing which is mounted beneath the body of the motor vehicle in any preferred manner and through which the engine shaft indicated at 6 extends, said casing being disposed in eccentric relation to the shaft. This casing has its annular wall thickened upon one side as shown at 7, said thickened wall being provided with spaced longitudinal bores or openings designated by the numerals 8 and 9 respectively which extend the entire length of said cylinder. The cylinder wall is cut away on its inner face as at 10 centrally of the opening 8, whereby communication is established between said opening and the interior of the cylinder. Upon one end of the annular wall of the cylinder 5, the spaced extensions or projections 11 are formed, the same being provided with longitudinal slots 12. The opposite end of the cylinder is provided with an annular flange 13 and for convenience in description, I shall hereinafter refer to this flanged end of the cylinder as the back or rear end thereof. To the other or forward end of the cylinder 5, immediately adjacent the longitudinal opening 9 therein, a plate 14 is secured, preferably by forming said plate which with a threaded stud for engagement in a threaded socket in the wall of the casing. This plate is provided with spaced openings 15. The'particular functions for these various structural features of the casing or cylinder 5 will be more fully understood as the description proceeds.

The back plate 16 of the cylinder 5 is adapted to be bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the flange 13 of said cylinder. This plate is provided with an eccentrically located opening 17 to receive the engine shaft, the hub surrounding said opening being reinforced by means of the arms 18 connect the same with v the rim of said plate. This back plate adjacent its outer edge is provided with openings 19 and 20 which are adapted to coincide with the openings 8 and 9 in the wall of the cylinder when said back plate is fixed thereto.

Additional openings 21 and 22 are also provided in said back plate for a purpose which will later be described. To the inner face of the plate 16 surrounding the opening 17 therein, a cam plate 23 is fixed.

The front plate 24 of the cylinder 5 conforms in circumferential contour to the contour of the inner wall of the cylinder and is adapted to fit loosely within the same. This plate is provided with a thickened rim portion 25 in which a pair of annular grooves 26 are formed. These grooves receive suit able packing rings 27 and ports 28 are formed in the rim of said plate which communicate with the respective grooves 26 be neath the packing rings therein. Upon the outer side of the rim 25, a plurality of spaced curved flanges 29 are formed, said flanges corresponding in number to the number of slots 12 on the end of the cylinder 5. It will be noted that these flanges taper longitudinally and in a common direction from one end to the other. To the inner face of the plate 24, a cam plate or disk 30 is secured.

The drum or rotor 31 is arranged Within the cylinder 5 and disposed in concentric relation to the engine shaft. This "drum consists of a plurality of sections integrally connected by the central hub 32, the spaces between the drum sections indicated at 33 receiving the radially movable blades 34. One end of, the hub 32 projects beyond the corresponding end of the drum to provide the lugs 35. In the hub 32, the innerends of the pins 36 are threaded, a'pair of the pins being arranged within each of the slots or channels 33. The blades 34 are provided with sockets or openings to loosely receive said. pins and between the inner ends of the blades and the hub 32, coil springs 37 are arranged on the pins 36 to yieldingly hold said blades at their outer edges inengagementwith the wall of the cylinder 5'. These blades at their ends rest upon the cam disks 23 and 30 secured to the inner faces of the cylinder plates or heads 16 and 24respectively. The outer edge of each of the movable blades 34 is provided with strips of packing material 38 to provide a fluid-tight engagement of the blades with the cylinder wall.

Upon the engineshaft 6, a sliding clutch member 39 is keyed, said member being provided with a notched head 40 to'receive the lugs 35 projecting from the hub of the rotor or drum. This clutch member at its opposite end is provided with ratchet teeth 41 and at an intermediate point with an annular groove 42. This groove is adapted to receive the bifurcated end of an arm 43 which is loosely mounted at its other end for sliding movement upon the piston rod 44.

This rod operates in the longitudinal bore or opening 9 provided in the wall of the cylinder 5. The piston 45 on one end of this rod operates in the rear end of the opening 9 and is provided with a head or flange 46 disposed in the enlarged rear end 4 of said opening. The piston 45 is pro-' vided with suitable packing rings 48 in the usual manner and a packing gland 49 surrounds said piston and engages upon the shoulder at the inner end of the enlargement 47 of the opening 9. This opening'is provided with a second annular shoulder 50 adjacent its forward end and between the same and the piston45, a coil spring 51 is arranged upon the piston rod. A washer 52 on said rod engages the other end face of the shoulder 50 and a spring 53 is disposed upon the rod between said washer and the arm 43. A third spring 54 is arranged upon the piston rod between the arm 43 and a disk or plate 55 fixed to the endof said rod. The enlarged end of the arm 43 through which the piston rod extends is provided with an opening 56 in which a pin 57 is loosely mounted. The upper end of this pin is provided with a lug 58 and a spring 59 is arranged in the opening 56 above the pin and bears against the lug 58 to normally force said pin downwardly. The pistonrod 44 is cut away to provide a longitudinally extending recess or 'channel60, the bottom wall of which is curved upwardly from an intermediate point and gradually merges into the periphery of said rod. The lower end of this pin bears upon the plate 14 and is adapted to be received in the openings 15 thereof to retain the clutch shifting arm 43 in position. I

In order to effectively prevent the escape of the air or other actuating fluid between the ends of the cylinder and the blades therein and the plates 16 and 24, I provide the spider 61 which consists of a hub provided with a plurality'of radially disposed arms 62. The-outer ends of thesearmsare of the compressor cylinder 5, and normally bear against the narrow ends of the flanges 29 formed upon the movable plate 24-. A heavy coil spring 63 is connected at one of its ends to one of the spider arms 62 and at its other end to the plate 2%. This spring acts to turn the spider upon the hub of the plate 24: and move the arms upon the wider portions of the flanges 29.

It will be obvious that as the spider is held against longitudinal movement with relation to the cylinder by the arrangement of the arms in the slots 12, the plate 24 will be forced inwardly into engagement with the end of the rotor or drum and the blades disposed in the slots thereof. Such pressure in turn forces the opposite end of the drum against the other end plate 16 of the cylinder. Thus very tight engagement of the end plates of the cylinder with the ends of the drum is maintained and wear upon the same automatically compensated for.

At a suitable point in the floor of the vehicle body, for the convenience of the operator, the control valves 6% and 65 are arranged, the valve casings consisting of a single integral casting securely bolted to the under side of the floor as indicated at 66. The valve stems 67 are connected at their upper ends by the foot plate 68. The valves proper may be of any preferred construction. 69 designates a storage tank or reservoir which is connected by means of a pipe r tube 70 to one end of the port or valve 64-. ii coupling member 71 is interposed in this pipe or tube and from one side thereof the tube 72 leads to the gage 73 suitably mounted upon the vehicle body. By means of this gage the pressure in the tank 69 can be readily ascertained. Adjacent to the gage, the tube 7 2 is provided with a valve 7 4 having a nipple or other connection 75 for the attachment of a hose thereto, through the medium of which air for the inflation of the wheel tires may be obtained. A pipe or tube 76 connects the other end of the valve 6% to the rear end of the longitudinal opening 8 proided in the wall of the cylinder 5. In each of the openings 21 and 22 of the back plate 16, a. suitable check valve is arranged, and these ports or openings are connected by a pipe '77. A suitable coupling member connects this pipe with the pipes 78 and 7 9, the latter leading to one end of the valve 65 while the pipe 78 extends to the rear end .of the opening 9 in the compressor cylinder. A branch pipe 79 connects the pipe 79 to the coupling member '71, said member being provided with a suitable check valve 71 to prevent back pressure from thepipe 70 into the pipe 79. In the forward end of the opening 8 in the cylinder wall, a spring seated valve 82 is arranged, said valve mov ing inwardly to its open position, as will be later explained.

Upon the forward end of the compressor cylinder a suitable cap or housing 80 is arranged, the same being provided with a hinged plate or door 81 which may be opened to admit of the engagement of a crank with the ratchet face 41 of the clutch member 39 when the starting mechanism for any reason is inoperative.

Having above described the construction and arrangement of the several parts of my improved starting apparatus, its operation will be understood as follows: In order to first charge the tank or reservoir 69 with compressed air, a suitable crank is first engaged with the ratchet 3 1 of the clutch member and turned to start the engine and rotate the compressor drum. As the drum is rotated to the right, and owing to the eccentric mounting of the cylinder with respect to the engine shaft, the air is compressed between the blades 34, as said blades are moving through the space between the periphery of the drum and the inner wall of the cylinder, the air being drawn into said cylinder through the valve 82. This com pressed air is exhausted from the cylinder 5 through the ports 21 and 22 past the check valves therein and is received in the pipes 78 and 79. As the engine is firing, the compressor is rapidly supplying air into the reservoir 69 and air is also conducted through the pipe 78 and backed against the rear end of the piston 45. The pin 57 is engaged in the inner opening 15 in the-plate ll and holds the arm :43 against movement until the air pressure has moved the piston rod 44-. forwardly to cause the inclined wall of the recess 60 in said rod to force said pin upwardly against the tension of the spring 59 out of said opening. The spring 53 which has been placed. under compression in this longitudinal. movement of the rod then acts against the arm 43 to force the same outwardly upon said rod, the lessened tension of the spring 5i offering practically no resistance to this movement of said arm. The pin 57 is carried with the arm 43 and drops into the outer opening 15 in the plate llto retain the arm 4:3 in its new position and hold the head 4:0 of the clutch member 39 out of engagement with the lugs 35 which project from the hub of the compressor drum. It will thus be apparent that the rotation of the compressor drum is stopped so that the feed of air to the reservoir or tank is discontinued. The spring 51 on the piston rod has a pressure against the piston equivalent to the air pressure it is desired to maintain. in the tank 69. Therefore, when the pressure in this tank is reduced below this predetermined point, said spring will reverse the movement of the piston so that the pin 57 will again be lifted in the movement of the piston rod, and the spring 54 on the forward end of said rod also iii) presses downwardly with his foot upon the plate 68, thereby opening the valves 6% and I (55. As the clutch member 39 is in its ineffective position owing to the pressure of air against the piston 48, it will be obvious that whenthe valves are open, the air act'- ing against the piston e5 escapes through the pipes 78 and 7 9 and the open valve 65, 7

thus permitting the spring 54 to act and force the clutch member to its elfective position. Simultaneously, air enters through the open valve 64 and pipe 76 to the opening 8 in the compressor cylinder and is admitted thereto from the communicating entrance channel or recesses 10. This air acting against the blades of the compressor drum rotates said drum and consequently the crank shaft of the engine through the medium "of the clutch member 39 which is keyed on said shaft. As soon as the engine, begins to fire, the operator lifts his foot from the valve plate 68 so that the valves 64: and .65 close. The operation of the air compressor continues and the air is exhausted from the cylinder 5 through the pipes :77, 78 and 79 to the storage tank until the desired maximum air pressure is created therein and such pressure acts upon the piston 45 to shift the clutch member 39 as above explained and discontinue the operation of the compressor.

From the above description taken in con nection with the accompanying drawings, the operation and several advantages of my improved starting apparatus will be clearly and fully understood.

The device may be placed in any desired location upon the chassis'of the car and connected directly or indirectly with the shaft of the engine.

It is to be understood that the corners of the compressor cylinder and the blades mounted in the drum or rotor may be rounded if desired.

Various other minor mechanical alterations may be resorted to in putting the invention into practical use and I therefore reserve the right to resort to all such legitimate changes in the form, proportion and arrangement of the several elements as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

- Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: v I In an engine starter, the combination with a fluid pressure reservoir, of a compressor embodying a rotary driven member loosely mounted upon the engine shaft, a casing therefor, connecting means between said casing and the reservoir including an operators control valve whereby the pres sure fluid is admitted to the casing to drive a fluid pressure reservoir, of a compressor including a rotary member loosely mounted upon the engine shaft and a casing therefor, said casing being provided with intake. and exhaust ports, a pair of control valves, connections between one of said valves, the reservoir and the intake port of the compressor, a connection between the other valve and the exhaust port,a feed pipe for the reservoir connecting said last named connection with the connection between the first named valve and the reservoir, a sliding clutchv member on the engine shaft to lock the rotary member thereto, and fluid actuated means mounted in the compressor casing-to shift said clutch member to its release position when the pressure in the reservoir reaches a pre determined point. L

The combination with a pressure fluid reservoir, of a compressor including a shaft, a rotary member loosely mounted thereon, a casing therefor, a plurality of compressor blades carried by the rotary member, said casing being providedwith intake and eX- haust ports, connecting means between said ports and the reservoir including control valves, a clutch member keyed upon the shaft to lock the rotary member thereon, the wall of said casing being provided with a chamber, a piston arrangedtherein, a connection between said chamber and the exhaust port of the casing, and means mounted upon said piston including an arm engaged with the clutch member whereby said clutch member is moved to its release position when the fluid pressure in the reservoir reaches a predetermined point.

t. In a fluid compressor, the comblnatlon with a shaft, a rotary member loosely mounted upon said shaft, a casing for said member, a plurality of compressor blades carried by said member, said casing havlng intake and exhaust ports, a pressure fluid reservoir, connections between said ports and the reservoir, a clutch member keyed upon said shaft to lock the rotary member. thereon, said casing being provided with a chamber, a piston arranged therein, an arm slidable upon said piston and engaging said;

clutch member, a spring arranged upon the piston bearing against said arm, means for supplying pressure fluid to said chamber whereby the piston is moved when the pres sure in the reservoir reaches a predetermined point and said spring placed under compres sion, and. means normally holding said arm against sliding movement, said means being automatically moved to its released position when the piston is actuated whereby said spring operates to move the arm and shift the clutch member to its release position.

In a fluid compressor, a shaft, a rotary member loosely mounted upon said shaft, a casing therefor, compressor blades arried by the rotary member, said casing having intake and exhaust ports, a fluid pressure reservoir, and connecting means between the same and said intake and exhaust ports, a clutch member keyed upon said shaft to lock the rotarv member thereon, said casing being provided with a chamber, a piston and piston rod movable in said chamber, an arm longitudinally movable upon the piston rod and engaged with said clutch member, a movable element, a stationary part fixed to the casing engaged by said movable element, ,aid element also engaging the arm to hold the same against movement on the piston rod, a pair of springs mounted upon said rod acting to shift the arm in relatively opposite directions, means for supplying pressure fluid from the reservoir to said chamber to move the piston in one direction when the pressure in the reservoir reaches a predetermined point whereby one ofthe springs is placed under compression, said piston rod in its movement actuating said movable member to release the clutch arm whereby the same is shifted in the expansion of said spring and the clutch member moved to its release position, the other of said springs acting upon the arm to return the clutch member to its locking position when the pressure in the reservoir is reduced below the predetermined point.

6. In a fluid compressor, a shaft, a rotary member loosely mounted thereon, a casing for said member, a plurality of compressor blades carried bv the rotary member, said casing having intake and exhaust ports, a fluid pressure reservoir, connections between said ports and the reservoir, said casing being provided with a chamber, a pipe connection between one end of said chamber and the exhaust port, a piston and piston rod movably mounted in the chamber, a clutch member keyed upon said shaft to lock the rotary member thereon, an arm longitudinally movable on the piston rod and engaged with said clutch member, a pair of springs mounted upon the piston rod to shift said arm in relatively opposite directions, a spring-pressed pin mounted in the arm, a stationary part fixed to the casing and engaged by said pin to hold the arm against increment on the piston r d, said piston rod being moved when the fluid pressure in the tank reaches a predetermined point to place one of the springs thereon under compression, said piston rod being provided with means for actuating said pin in the movement of the piston to release said arm where by said spring shifts he arm and moves the clutch member to its release position, the other of said springs on the piston rod reversing the movement of the arm and shifting the clutch member to its effective position when the pressure in the reservoir is reduced below the pred termined point.

7. In a fluid compressor, a shaft, a rotary member, mounted thereon, a casing for said member, said casing being provided with in take and exhaust ports, compressor blades arried by said rotary member, a fluid pressure tank, connections between said tank and the intake and exhaust ports, a clutch member keyed upon the shaft to lock the rotary member thereon, said casing being provided with a chamber, a piston and piston rod movable in said chamber, a connection between one end of said chamber and the exhaust port, an arm movable upon the piston rod and engaged with said clutch member, a plate fixed to the casing provided with spaced openings, a spring pressed pin mounted in the arm adapted to en age in said openings and hold the arm against movement, a pair of springs mounted upon the piston rod acting to shift the arm in relatively opposite directions, an additional spring mounted upon said rod to counteract the pressure of fluid against the piston, said piston rod being provided with a longitudinally extending cam surface engaged by the pin in said arm whereby said pin is moved to its release position in the movement of the piston rod and said arm shifted by one of the first named springs to move the clutch member to is release position, said latter spring reversing the movement of the piston rod and placing the other of said first named springs under compression whereby the movement of the arm is reversed and the clutch member shifted into locking engagement with the rotary member when the fluid pressure in the reservoir is reduced below a predetermined point.

8. In a fluid compressor, a shaft, a rotary member thereon, a casing for said member, compressor blades carried by said rotary member, a head permanently secured to one end of said casing, longitudinally movable head mounted in the other end of said casing, and means having limited movement circumferentially upon said casing and (:0- operating with means upon said latter head to force the head inwardly into frictional engagement with one end of the rotary member and the compressor blades therein.

9. In a fluid compressor, a shaft, a rotary 'member loosely mounted on said shaft, a casing for said member, a plurality of compressor blades mounted in said rotary member, means for locking said member to the shaft, a head fixed to one end of said casing, a head longitudinally movable within the other end of said casing, a spider movably mounted upon the end of said casing, a spring connected to one of the arms of said spider and to said head to shift the spider in one direction, and means carried by the head with which the arms of said spider coact toforce said head inwardly into frictional engagement with one end of the rotary member and the blades thereon and move said member longitudinally upon the shaft into frictional engagement with the fixed head on the other end of the casing.

10. In a fluid compressor, a shaft, a rotary member loosely mounted thereon, a casing for said member, means for locking the ro tary member on the shaft, a head fixed to one end of said casing, a head longitudinally Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. O.

' of said spider projecting teases movable in the other end of the casing, compressor blades mounted in the rotary member, said casing being provided at one end with'spaced arcuate slots, a spider loosely mounted upon said movable head, the arms through the respective slots of said casing, cam flanges projecting from the face .of said movable head and engaged by said arms, and a spring fixed to one of the arms and to move the arms of the spider'upon said cam flanges and force the head inwardly into frictional engagement with the rotary memher and the compressor blades and move said member and blades longitudinally to engage the same at their other ends with the stationary head.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. BUBEL.

Witnesses:

MICHAEL ORIENT, WM. A. KIEKEL.

said head to a Commissioner of Patents. 

